Stage 2 - February 9: Qatar Foundation - Oryx Farm, 110km

Lutz escapes for win, Wild gold

Eva Lutz of Team Nürnberger Versicherung and Veronica Andreasson of Team Bilga fired free in the final 12 kilometres of the Ladies' Tour of Qatar stage two Monday in Al Shahaniyah. Germany's Lutz took the victory over her companion and arrived 14 seconds ahead of the chase group led by Team Lotto’s Rochelle Gilmore.

"At 150 metres to go I just attacked and thought, 'more, more, more' and hoped I would reach the line," said Lutz.

Kirsten Wild of Cervélo Test Team used the two intermediate sprints on the stage to her advantage. She finished first and second at the two sprints. The time bonuses awarded put her in the leader's golden jersey by five seconds over yesterday's winner, Giorgia Bronzini (Italy).

"It was our plan to take more seconds and the plan succeeded. Of course, we will try to keep it," Wild said.

Netherlands' Wild also leads in the point's competition by eight points over Bronzini.

The 110-kilometre stage started from the Qatar Foundation in Doha at 12:43; the conditions were hot, but with only a slight wind. Race leader and stage one winner, Giorgia Bronzini of Team Italy, helped keep the group together for the first half of the race.

The riders covered the first hour of racing in 37.5 kilometres. A crash at kilometre 20 forced USA's Janiel Holcomb to abandon.

Holcomb's teammate, Katharine Carroll, made the first escape of the day after 71 kilometres of racing. The peloton caught her five kilometres later as it revved up for the first intermediate sprint.

Wild led Kirsty Broun (Australia) and Suzanne De Goede (Nürnberger Versicherung) over the line in Al Jemailiya, kilometre 78.

The change in direction (south, towards Doha) caused the first split in the peloton. Three groups formed with 16 seconds back to the second and 40 seconds back to the third at 25 kilometres remaining. The front two groups formed one big group of around 50 riders five kilometres later.

The second intermediate sprint at kilometre 96 was won by Broun over Wild and Martine Bras (Selle Italia). Lutz and Andreasson broke loose soon after.

The duo traded turns at the front, in the wind, as they rode the dead-straight road to Al Shahaniyah. Andreasson would not allow Lutz to rest on her wheel in the final 500 metres; the two were side-by-side until Lutz accelerated for the win.

Ellen van Dijk (Columbia-Highroad) continues to lead in the young rider's competition over De Goede.

Tomorrow is the third and final stage of the inaugural Ladies' Tour of Qatar. Wild will seek to defend her lead on the 109-kilometre run northeast from Al Shahaniyah to Al Khor's waterfront.